Unit Outline

In dynamic, high pressure work environments, public sector managers and leaders are now expected to have specialised skills with strategising to overcome complex, and at times intractable, problems. Students undertaking HSP604 will operationalise the complex problem project proposed in HSP603 and write strategic research papers to communicate the outcomes to real world stakeholders. They will deepen their knowledge, and develop and apply skills, in three areas: 1. How to schedule/plan a research project (including ethics if relevant); 2. How to collect and analyse data specific to their project; and 3. How to write up and disseminate research outcomes using research seminars and briefing papers. Students will continue to work with the research supervision team they developed in HSP603.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Critically analyse the role of collaboration and stakeholders in research design and implementation
2	Design and execute a research project for addressing a complex problem
3	Synthesise research findings to demonstrate the project’s contribution to knowledge
4	Communicate research outcomes clearly in written and oral formats at a level commensurate with a research leader

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	HSP603

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No alterations have been made to this unit since 2024.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Ten-minute project presentation	See the MyLO site for the due date	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Critical reflection on collaboration OR Human Research Ethics Protocol	Week 6	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Briefing note and internal communication abstract	Week 12	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Ten-minute project presentation

Task Description:

You will develop and lead a ten-minute presentation to engage in a public feedback process about your complex problem project. The format will be a presentation to decision-makers in your organisation at the end of the semester. However, you can tailor the format and style to fit best with your specific audience. For example, the presentation format would change if your project needs to remain confidential.

Dates for these presentations are to be confirmed but will occur in either Week 14 or Week 15 of semester 2.

Date of presentations will be advertised via MyLO and will vary depending on your organisation.

Task Length:

5 slides

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply knowledge and skills about research design as evidenced in a completed research project	LO2
2	Demonstrate how research project outcomes address a gap in existing knowledge	LO3
3	Communicate outcomes of your research in an engaging presentation at a level commensurate with a research leader	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Critical reflection on collaboration OR Human Research Ethics Protocol

Task Description:

Your first task for HSP604 is to finalise your decision about whether you will be conducting fieldwork or desktop research. This decision will inform which of the two streams you will pursue in AT1.

Stream 1: Desktop Research
Evidence-based practice cannot be achieved in isolation, and increasingly, we are required to collaborate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes and changes in attitudes and practice. In this desktop research assessment task, we ask you to reflect on collaboration with your academic, workplace and external supervisors, as well as how your project considers the views of your stakeholders. Ultimately, all research has an audience, and for some of you that will be purely internal to your organisation; for others, it will be communities, and non-government and government organisations.

Further details about the requirements of this assessment are available on MyLO, including the assessment criteria.

Stream 2: Fieldwork Research
Building on your AT5 for HSP603 (Project Description), students exploring their topic via fieldwork research (e.g., surveys, interviews, focus groups, secondary data analysis) will be required to complete an Ethics Protocol or an Exemption from Ethics Protocol. All research conducted in a university environment must have an approved Ethics Protocol before embarking on fieldwork research, and your protocol must comply with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023).

Your ethics protocol cannot be completed in isolation. You must liaise closely with your academic supervisor in drafting your ethics protocol as it is your academic supervisor who submits the application on your behalf once it has been fully drafted by you. Examples of previous ethics protocols will be provided in MyLO to assist in drafting your protocol.

Further details about the requirements of this assessment are available on MyLO, including assessment criteria.

Task Length:

Critical Reflection: Maximum 1000 words (excluding reference list) OR Ethics Protocol: Submission of ethics protocol

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critical Reflection; Critically analyse collaborative work with research supervision team	LO1
2	Critical Reflection; Integrate research evidence to support discussion of complex problem	LO2
3	Critical Reflection; Communicate using a written essay format	LO4
4	Ethics Protocol; Carefully consider the ethical issues associated with your methodology	LO2
5	Ethics Protocol; Demonstrate an awareness of the project’s stakeholders and their role in fieldwork research	LO1
6	Ethics Protocol; Completion and submission of Ethics Protocol for review	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Briefing note and internal communication abstract

Task Description:

You will write a briefing note and an abstract focused on the public-facing dissemination of the findings of your research project. If your research project is confidential, these documents will
only be circulated to people within an organisation.

Further details about this assessment item will be available from MyLO, including the assessment criteria.

Task Length:

Briefing Paper = 2000 words maximum (excluding references) Research Abstract = 200 words maximum (no references required)

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply knowledge and skills about research design as evidenced in a completed research project	LO2
2	Demonstrate how research project outcomes address a gap in existing knowledge	LO3
3	Communicate research outcomes using accessible, succinct, clear language at a level commensurate with a research leader	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.